Welcome, visitors from Hayefield and Gardening Gone Wild!
I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about 40 miles north of Philadelphia (mid-Zone 6 to lower Zone 7, depending on whose map you use). Under the supervision of my two alpacas, Duncan and Daniel, I garden on four acres in full sun: about two acres of managed meadow, one acre of pasture, and one acre of intensively planted and open shrubbery areas. This garden is entering its ninth year in 2010.
My previous place, just north of here, was just a fifth of an acre, and mostly shaded. Besides the garden and greenhouse, it was home to Pendragon Perennials, a tiny rare-plant nursery that I started in 1995 and closed in 2000, when I ran out of gardening space and sold that house.
I’ve had a lifelong love of plants, but it didn’t develop into a full-blown obsession until my late teens. I earned a B.S. degree in Agronomy and Environmental Science from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture in Doylestown, Pennsylvania (spending the summers working as a gardener on various estates in the Philadelphia area), then ended up at Rodale Press Garden Books. After five years, I left there in 1995 to work as a freelance garden-book writer and editor.
I consider myself an equal-opportunity plant geek, but my current “thing” is colored foliage (specifically, variegated and chartreuse leaves). And ornamental grasses. And meadows. And herbs. And vegetables. Oh, and shrubs, too. And annuals, of course. Um…just about all kinds of outdoors plants, actually. I also enjoy raising plants from seed. That’s how I ended up starting a nursery at my last place. (When you’re growing from seed, it’s just as easy to pot up three dozen seedlings as it is to pot up three, you know.) Here, I’m never at a loss for places to put new plants.
Below are Amazon links to some of the books I’ve written. If you have any questions about my writings or images, feel free to e-mail me at hayefield (at) comcast dot net or leave me a message below.
The Perennial Care Manual: A Plant by Plant Guide
Foliage: Astonishing Color and Texture beyond Flowers
Fallscaping: Extending your Garden Season into Autumn
Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design
The Perennial Gardener’s Design Primer
Taylor’s Guide to Roses: How to Select and Grow 380 Roses
Taylor’s Weekend Gardening Guide to Soil and Composting
Taylor’s Easy Plant Propagation
Photo at top by Rob Cardillo, 2007.
In your book, Foliage page 100 has a picture from VanDusen botanical garden. There is a purplish plant with no name or I could not find it. I even looked at Vandusen website for that picture. I thought it was Tradescantia pallida Purpurea but I think it is too tall. I wish I knew the name of that purplish plant.
Hi Scott! You are right: It is Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’ (or T. pallida ‘Purple Heart’, or Setcreasea pallida, or S. purpurea, or whichever name you prefer). I have the height listed as 8 to 10 inches, but it can appear taller if it has taller companions to lean on.
-Nan
Hi Nan,
I’ve enjoyed your website and would love to be able to add you to my “favorites!” However, when I follow your name, I don’t get your web address. Can you help me?
Thanks, Shady! You mean the address for this blog, Hayefield? If so, it’s http://hayefieldhouse.com/
If you’re looking for something else, please ask again!
-Nan
Hi Nancy,
I did a search for Diervilla Cool Splash and found your comments from the flower show! I was responsible for getting those in the show. My friend Peter Podaras selected it from a seedling. I can e-mail you a history of it and some better pics(it’s near impossible to get good pics at the show) if you want. I’m trying to help Peter make some money- it’s tough trying to be a plant breeder! Peter forced those plants in his research greenhouse at Cornell. I drove all the way up there to bring them to the show. Got your foliage book, love it!
Still have the variegated mock orange I got from your Pendragon days.
Ron
Hi Ron!
Oh, how neat that you had a hand in getting that diervilla in the show. I’m not surprised that you’d appreciate it too. I’d love to have some better pictures; I’ll get in touch via e-mail.
-Nan
Nan! Awesome to see your site. I’m headed to Black Creek tomorrow and it was cool to see your page on it. My car looks like yours when I’m through there every year. Never started on the right though….might do that this year but fear I’ll have all my carts full of trops before I even hit the annuals.
Hi David! It’s been too long. I’m glad you found me again. Have fun at Black Creek!
-Nan
Gary and I were up to Hitch Lyman’s enchanting Snowdrop event and noticed your link on Ellis Hollow website – the mysterious man lurking in the background taking pics. That same evening we got back and noticed the pics, including me bending over gazing at a specimen, on the web. How small a world gardening is! Great to see your site and hope to see the real you soon!
Hey, that *is* you! Small world indeed. I was just thinking of you: The peony you brought me last year has one bud ready to open, and those orange bearded irises have doubled in size since last year. Do come to visit them soon!
-Nan
Hey Nancy- I couldn’t believe I came across your blog. I miss your presence in the Lehigh Valley & our occasional “visits” Glad to see your latest endeavors and how well you are faring.
Do you ever do garden tours? I may be teaching at LCCC and am always looking for “tours” .
Have made good use of your Grasses books thru the years too- as I’m sure this website. Keep up the good works.
Priscilla
Hi Priscilla! How wonderful to hear from you. I’m glad to know that you’re still doing well. I probably won’t be opening my garden this year except for the Perennial Plant Association’s annual conference at the end of July. I’ve gotten involved in a new gardening project elsewhere, so my own garden isn’t my focus at the moment.
-Nan
Hi Nan
I had the pleasure of meeting you at Linden Hill Gardens yesterday with the PHS group. I thank you for autographing your book, Foliage (which I thoroughly enjoy). In your opening remarks, you mentioned Sandy White. Since moving to Skippack 3 years ago, I have become a steady customer at Floral and Hardy. I was saddened to see that she has sold her business, but once an avid gardener, always an avid gardener. I enjoyed her enthusiasm and extreme knowlege of the plant world. I shall miss her, but I’m glad she has good friends like you. Once again, thanks for the pleasure of meeting you and Jerry yesterday. A most wonderful day at Linden Hill Gardens. Lynn
I’m so glad you visited me here, Lynn. Yes, it was a lovely day at Linden Hill for us too. I’m delighted that you’re enjoying the book. I’m stunned to hear about Floral & Hardy, though; I had no idea it was sold. How very sad!
-Nan
Nan, Somehow I’ve missed my listing for Gardening Gone Wild topics!!! Can you help me? Thanks!
Hey, Shady! I’m not sure I understand your question, so I sent you an e-mail directly. This month’s topic is Decks, Porches, and Patios, if that’s what you’re asking.
-Nan
Nice article about you and your garden in the NYT! I saw a link on GGW but you need one here, too, for your many fans!
Hey, El Deb! Thanks for stopping by. Ok, ok, here’s a direct link to Anne’s article Where Foliage Eclipses Flowers.
-Nan
Hi, Nancy,
I like your book about Grasses : versatile partners for uncommon garden design – A Chinese editor of Journal of Chinese Horticulture and Landscape in Beijing invites you wrote a review paper about ornamentam grass for their journal – your any reply are much appreciated, and thank you in advance.
I am Jinshuang MA, a research taxonomist at Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn, NY 11225.
Thank you so much for the message. I will contact you directly by e-mail.
-Nan
Hi
I just found your site as I was trying to locate “wild or perrenial potatoes”. Great Site!! I will be a regular visitor for sure. And if you happen to know of the type of potatoes I am looking for, any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Kenneth
Welcome, Kenneth! Apparently it’s not unusual for potato tubers to overwinter in the garden in Zone 7 and south – or so I’m told – so technically, I guess you could say they are all tender perennials. So far, I don’t know of any sources for “wild” seed or tubers. Sorry I can’t be more help.
-Nan
Thanks for the tour.
Thanks to you for stopping by!
-Nan
Love your books. I have a question for a column I’m writing on fall flowers and you’re the brainy one that might have the answer. Botanically speaking, what is the advantage for a plant to bloom so late in fall? Why does that work them as opposed to spring or summer?
In other words, what’s in for them?
Hmmm…I think about that and get back to you via e-mail, Cindy.
-Nan
Ohhhhhhh, you’ve got llama’s. How wonderful. I am surrounded by sheep and wish I could wave a magic wand and turn them into llama’s or vicuna’s.
Eight acres to care for. I know what that feels like ;-)
Wow, fields full of vicunas – that *would* be something to see!
-Nan
Nancy,
I just put a review of Fallscaping up on my blog, http://www.commonweeder.blogspot.com. It also ran in my weekly column in The Recorder in Greenfield, MA. I will shortly get the cover art up. I loved the book and your blog. You are so knowledgeable!
Wow, Pat! Thanks ever so much for the thorough and enthusiastic review. I’m glad you enjoyed the book!
-Nan
Nancy,
Couldn’t find an email address, so post my general comment here (but feel free to remove).
So many bloggers have these huge pictures, which I am afraid to open as it takes 30 mins to appear on my dial up, and I rarely want to see them anyways.
But yours….. so gorgeous, and so small :-(
Could you see your way clear to have the separate page picture a touch bigger from time to time? Especially the breathtaking ones on bloomdays?
Thanks for your comment, Joco. I’ll see if I can figure out how to do that!
-Nan
Nancy. I have really enjoyed your books on Grasses and Fallscaping. I came across your blog through Gardening Gone Wild. What great resources! I’m anxious to pick up Foliage next. Keep up the great work and thank you for your contibutions to the gardening world.
Wow, Adam, thanks so much! I’m glad you found Hayefield, and I hope you visit again.
-Nan
Nan, thank you for your very kind (and prompt!) response. I’m so new at the blogging that I hadn’t realized that dirtonthekeys had members-only restrictions on commenters. No more; it’s a big-tent blog now. Whew, and thanks.
Say, I was startled and impressed to get the fuller sense of your amazing productivity. I’ve had your Taylor’s Roses book for years; it’s the reality-testing for all my British rose books. Only just now did I get past the “Taylor’s” name and register that YOU were the actual author. Oh my: How do you accomplish so much? (Or perhaps you’re not also creating gardens for so many clients, like me, so you’ve got that much more time for writing? Sigh.)
(Taking a few restorative minutes away from the intensive Christmas-morning-with-the-inlaws festivities here.)
Thanks for your inspiring as well as educational writing. You’ve enabled me to confidently recommend and enjoy all kinds of roses in my client-driven creations that I might not have explored otherwise. –Louis
How cool, Louis! Hearing that the book has been so useful to you is the highest praise I could get. Writing (as well as editing) is my main job, and it has been so since I went freelance almost 14 years ago. I average one book a year, so they add up.
Happy holidays!
Nan
I found you through Garden Rant, and just want to thank you for doing what you do! I am taking some courses in Landscape Design and your blog is fun and oh so valuable. Also, I took your book ‘Grasses’ out of the library just recently to review, and I just loved it! It is a must have in my gardening library! I will be sure to check out your others.
Thanks so much again!
A pleasure to meet you, Cindy! It was so nice of you to visit here and comment. I’ll be over to return the visit soon!
-Nan
I Nan , my name is Gregorio , i’m from Italy , tuscany
and i follow your blog , it’ so intersting and so full of ideas ,very inspiring …i’m going to order your book fallscaping .
if you want, look at this website where there are some photos of my terrace!
http://www.compagniadelgiardinaggio.it/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17440
How exciting to have you as a visitor, Greg. I looked at the photos and love your terrace garden. I admire the natural look of your planters, and your planting style too. I see you even have metal spirals as accents; I have those too! Even though we live far apart, I’d say that we have lots in common. Great to meet you, my fellow gardener!
-Nan
Hi, Nan. This e-mail comes from Ireland.
I was sent an e-mail from amazon.co.uk (UK based) about your new book, and I wanted to about the content. How much relates to vegetables and herbs? Do you take year-round growing into account at all?
Best of luck–I’ve ordered the book and am looking forward to its arrival.
Sláinte,
Brian Donovan
Thanks for your message, Brian. I’ll be in touch by e-mail.
-Nan
Recently I had the honor of meeting Rob, a truly talented and gentle man. He spoke so highly of you I just had to have your books. They are all he said they would be.
How lovely, Kathleen! Thank so much for stopping by.
-Nan
Just in case you can’t read my mind, the Rob I am referring to in Rob Cardillo.
Heh – I knew who you meant, Kathleen. Is there really more than one Rob? He needs no other name, kind of like Martha or Madonna, right? (He’ll probably be mortified if he ever reads this!)
-Nan
Nancy,
I just found out you will be the one to interview me for Country Gardens magazine…how cool is that!!!
Very cool, Kathleen! I’ll be in touch by e-mail.
-Nan
I live not too far from you, in Montgomery County, and am looking for nurseries that carry more unusual varieties of perennials. Do you know of any website or publication that lists local nurseries – particularly in Bucks, Montgomery and Lancaster Counties? I visit Black Creek every spring (sometimes more than once!) and find they carry more varieties than most nurseries, but I still have a long list of plants that I would like to try but have been unable to find. The shipping costs of mail-order sites tend to be outrageous if purchasing only 1 or 2 plants. Also, have you ever stopped at Conestoga Nursery on Route 625 in East Earl? This is a great place for trees and shrubs.
Hello Pat! You need to come over to Linden Hill Gardens in Ottsville (on the other side of Lake Nockamixon). We always have very cool plants, and if we don’t have what you’re looking for, we may be able to order it for you. You can find the directions and info on our weekend plant events at http://www.lindenhillgardens.com.
-Nan
I should have thought of Linden Hill! I visited a few years ago and joined Jerry on one of his garden walks. I didn’t find a great selection back then, but it sure looks like they have grown in the past few years. (I think he was only open weekends at that time) I will be sure to stop by this spring!
Pat
I hope to meet you there, Pat! If you want to e-mail me your wish list before then, I can tell you if we’re going to have the plants you’re seeking, or if we might be able to order them for you.
-Nan
Dear Nancy,
Amazingly wonderful surprise to stumble across your website to learn what a rich and interesting path you’ve had since the old days at “Del Val!”
I think of you and Ann often and MacGuyver night!
Cheers,
Lynn
Barness 105
Lynn! How great to hear from you. It’s been a long time since our college days. I’ll e-mail you.
-Nancy